City offers eco-friendly Christmas tree disposal

December 28, 2012

MARQUETTE - The Christmas trees of area residents - once loved and cherished by many a family - will be thrown out in the coming days.

So, how can the trees be kicked to the curb in an environmentally friendly way?

The city of Marquette Public Works Department is offering a free way to dispose of the trees that won't see them sent to rot in a landfill.

Article Photos

The Christmas tree drop-off site at Lakeview Arena in Marquette is pictured. The sites will be open until Jan. 14. (Journal photo by Matt Keiser)

Two Christmas tree drop-off sites have been set up, one located on the west end of the Lakeview Arena parking lot and one at 850 W. Baraga Ave. Access to the latter site can be obtained either from Baraga Avenue or West Spring Street.

Trees will be taken from those sites to the city's compost area, where some will be turned into mulch to be used in city landscaping projects.

Only Marquette residents who use the city's green garbage bags for their trash pickup may use the drop off sites. Non-residents are not eligible to use them.

All trees must be free of decorations and should not be attached to tree stands when dropped off. Trees should be placed inside the orange fencing.

Though the Marquette city sites are only open to eligible area residents, other eco-friendly county residents may take their Christmas trees - again, without decorations or tree stands attached - to the county's landfill, where they'll be composted free of charge.

According to the National Christmas Tree Association, roughly 25 to 30 million Christmas trees are sold in the United States every year and Michigan is one of the top Christmas tree producing states in the country.

With more than 4,000 Christmas tree recycling programs throughout the United States, according to the association, options abound for those looking to help maintain their green lifestyles while keeping old holiday traditions.